U.S. patent application number 10/044058 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-10 for integrated quick connect corrugated tubing assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Holm Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Heverly, Wayne T..
Application Number | 20030127855 10/044058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21930306 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030127855 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heverly, Wayne T. |
July 10, 2003 |
Integrated quick connect corrugated tubing assembly
Abstract
Integrated quick connect tubing that includes a quick connect
retainer that is integrated as a cuff into corrugated tubing, most
preferably corrugated tubing fabricated from a rigid plastic. The
quick connect retainer is preferably fabricated from polypropylene
and is most preferably spin welded to the interior of a sleeve at
one or both ends of the corrugated tubing to attach the quick
connect stepped body or retainer to one or both ends of the
corrugated tubing.
Inventors: |
Heverly, Wayne T.; (Cuyahoga
Falls, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAHN LOESER & PARKS, LLP
TWIN OAKS ESTATE
1225 W. MARKET STREET
AKRON
OH
44313
US
|
Assignee: |
Holm Industries, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
21930306 |
Appl. No.: |
10/044058 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
285/227 ;
285/231; 285/233; 285/319; 285/341 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/083 20130101;
F16L 37/098 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
285/227 ;
285/231; 285/233; 285/319; 285/341 |
International
Class: |
F16L 021/00; F16L
051/02 |
Claims
1. In combination: a major household cleaning appliance having at
least one internal component, the at least one internal component
having at least one male fitting thereon: and a tube having two
ends, at least one of the ends having a quick connect fitting
thereon, the quick connect fitting releasingly engaging the at
least one male fitting.
2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the major
household cleaning appliance has a plurality of internal
components, the internal components each having at least one male
fitting thereon, the tube having a quick connect fitting at both
ends, one quick connect fitting being adapted to releasingly engage
a male fitting on one internal component, the other quick connect
fitting being adapted to releasingly engage a male fitting on
another internal component.
3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the tube is a
drain tube adapted to drain water from within the major household
cleaning appliance.
4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the tube is a
corrugated tube.
5. A quick connect assembly for use in household cleaning
appliances, the household cleaning appliance comprising: a quick
connect fitting having a quick connect retainer sleeve; and a quick
connect retainer integrated into the sleeve, the quick connect
fitting being adapted to be removably attached to a fitting in the
household cleaning appliance.
6. The integrated quick connect assembly recited in claim 5,
wherein the quick connect fitting is fabricated from plastic.
7. A quick connect assembly for use in household cleaning
appliances, the household cleaning appliance having at least one
fitting therein, the quick connect assembly comprising: a length of
corrugated tubing; a quick connect retainer sleeve integral to the
corrugated tubing; and, a quick connect retainer integrated into
the sleeve.
8. The quick connect assembly recited in claim 7, wherein the quick
connect retainer sleeve is monolithic with the corrugated
tubing.
9. The quick connect assembly recited in claim 8, wherein the quick
connect assembly is adapted to be removably attached to the
fitting.
10. The quick connect assembly recited in claim 9, wherein the
quick connect assembly is fabricated from plastic.
11. A quick connect tubing assembly for use in major household
cleaning appliance applications comprising: a length of corrugated
tubing; a quick connect retainer sleeve monolithically formed with
the corrugated tubing; and a quick connect retainer integral with
the sleeve, the quick connect retainer comprising: an outwardly
extending flange; an inwardly extending flange; and an intermediate
wall portion connecting the outwardly extending flange and the
inwardly extending flange.
12. A corrugated tubing assembly comprising: a length of corrugated
tubing; a quick connect sleeve monolithic with one end of the
corrugated tubing; and a quick connect retainer attached to the
interior of the quick connect sleeve, the quick connect retainer
having a plurality of inwardly extending resilient fingers, the
resilient fingers being adapted to retainingly and releasingly
engage a male fitting.
13. The corrugated tubing assembly according to claim 12, further
comprising: an elastomeric sealing ring adapted to sealingly engage
the male fitting.
14. The corrugated tubing assembly according to claim 13, wherein
the quick connect sleeve has a stepped circular interior
comprising: a quick connect retainer portion having a first inner
diameter; a seal portion having a second diameter, the second
diameter being smaller than the first diameter; and a seal
retaining portion having a third diameter, the third diameter being
smaller than the second diameter, the seal portion being between
the quick connect retainer portion and the seal retaining portion,
the seal retainer portion being monolithic with the length of
corrugated tubing, the quick connect retainer engaging the quick
connect retainer portion of the stepped circular interior.
15. The corrugated tubing assembly according to claim 14, wherein
the elastomeric sealing ring fits radially within the inside
diameter of the seal portion of the stepped circular interior and
fits axially against a shoulder formed between the seal portion of
the stepped circular interior and the seal retaining portion of the
stepped circular interior.
16. The corrugated tubing assembly according to claim 14, wherein
the quick connect retainer has an annular shape with an outwardly
extending flange at one end thereof and an inwardly extending
flange at the other end thereof, the outwardly extending flange
engaging a free end of the quick connect sleeve, the inwardly
extending flange engaging a shoulder formed between the quick
connect retainer portion of the stepped circular interior and the
seal portion of the stepped circular interior.
17. The corrugated tubing assembly according to claim 16, wherein
the quick connect retainer inwardly extending flange is formed of a
plurality of discontinuous flange sections.
18. A method of removably attaching tubing to household cleaning
appliances, the household cleaning appliance having at least one
fitting, said method comprising the steps of; providing a quick
connect assembly integral with a length of tubing, said quick
connect assembly comprising: a quick connect retainer sleeve; and a
quick connect retainer integral with the sleeve; and retainingly
and removably attaching said quick connect assembly to said
fitting.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the quick connect
retainer includes a plurality of flexible fingers and the step of
retaining and removably attaching said quick connect assembly
includes flexing the plurality of flexible fingers with an radially
outwardly extending flange on said at least one fitting.
20. A tubing assembly comprising: a length of tubing, at least a
portion of the tubing, including an end of the tubing, being formed
from a thermoplastic elastomer; a quick connect sleeve monolithic
with the end of the length of the tubing formed of thermoplastic
elastomer; and a quick connect retainer integrated into the quick
connect retainer sleeve.
21. The tubing assembly according to claim 20, wherein the quick
connect retainer comprises: an outwardly extending flange; an
inwardly extending flange; and an intermediate wall portion
connecting the outwardly extending flange with the inwardly
extending flange.
22. The tubing assembly according to claim 20, wherein the quick
connect retainer includes a plurality of inwardly extending
resilient fingers, the resilient fingers being adapted to
retainingly and releasingly engage a male fitting.
23. In combination: a major household cleaning appliance having at
least one internal component, the at least one internal component
having at least one male fitting thereon; and a tube having at
least a portion formed of thermoplastic elastomer, at least one end
of the tube being formed of the thermoplastic elastomer, the at
least one end of the tube being formed of the thermoplastic
elastomer having a quick connect fitting thereon, the quick connect
fitting retainingly and releasingly engaging the at least one male
fitting, the tubing adjacent the quick connect retainer sleeve
having a smaller diameter than the quick connect retainer sleeve,
the tubing smaller diameter portion sealingly engaging the at least
one male fitting.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to new and novel
improvements in integrated quick connect corrugated tubing. More
particularly, the present invention relates to integrated quick
connect corrugated tubing that incorporates at least one quick
connect connector on one or both ends of the corrugated tubing for
use in major appliance applications.
[0002] Quick connect connectors have found wide acceptance in
various applications to facilitate rapid connection and
disconnection to join, for example, tubing to other devices.
However, these known prior art connectors for tubing have
disadvantages that limit their application in major appliance
applications. These disadvantages include having a substantially
constant inside and outside diameter and, thus, their length cannot
be readily adjusted to accommodate variations in the distance
between appliances and associated components. In addition, various
connectors have been used in conjunction with corrugated tubing.
These prior art connectors also have disadvantages that limit their
application in major appliance applications including that they do
not utilize quick connect connectors, they can be difficult and/or
expensive to fabricate, and/or they can be difficult to use.
[0003] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the
provision of integrated quick connect tubing that incorporates a
quick connect connector on one or both ends of corrugated or other
tubing for use in major appliance applications. This and other
objects of the present invention are attained by integrated quick
connect tubing that includes a quick connect retainer that is
integrated as a cuff into appropriate tubing.
[0004] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become apparent in the following detailed description of the
invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an elevational schematic representation, partially
in cross-section, of an integrated quick connect tubing assembly
according to the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an elevational schematic representation of an
integrated quick connect tubing assembly and appropriate fitting
according to the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 3 is an elevational schematic representation of an
integrated quick connect tubing assembly according to the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a household washing machine
illustrating one use of the integrated quick connect tubing
assembly shown in FIG. 1; and
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of
an integrated quick connect tubing assembly according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] FIG. 1 is an elevational schematic representation of an
integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10 according to the
present invention. Integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10
preferably includes quick connect sleeve 18, which is preferably
monolithically formed as a cuff with corrugated tubing 14. In
addition to corrugated tubing, integrated quick connect sleeve 18
can be formed with other types of tubing, such as a flexible smooth
wall tubing. In one embodiment, integrated quick connect tubing
assembly 10 may be fabricated from appropriate rigid plastic
including polypropylene.
[0011] Sleeve 18 is normally formed from the same material as
tubing 14 and may be fabricated from appropriate plastic including
polypropylene. Sleeve 18 is stepped in three varying diameters with
the smallest diameter step immediately adjacent to the corrugated
tubing.
[0012] Quick connect stepped retainer 12 may be fabricated from
appropriate rigid plastic including polypropylene. Quick connect
stepped retainer 12 is also preferably fabricated from the same or
substantially the same polymer as tubing assembly 10 and is most
preferably spin welded to interior surface 16 of the largest
diameter step of the sleeve 18. Sleeve 18 preferably has a stepped
circular interior comprising a quick connect retainer having three
different diameters. The second diameter 17 is a seal portion, the
second diameter being smaller than the first diameter. The third
diameter 15 is a seal retaining portion, the third diameter 15
being smaller than the second diameter. The seal portion 17 is
between the quick connect retainer portion 24 and the seal
retaining portion 15 and is mono-lithic with the length of
corrugated tubing 14. The sleeve 18 preferably is mono-lithically
fabricated with corrugated tubing 14 at one or both ends of
corrugated tubing 14 with quick connect retainer 12 attached to one
or both ends of corrugated tubing 14. In addition, other methods of
joining quick connect retainer 12 within interior surface 16 of
sleeve 18 could be used including, for example, a sonic weld, an
adhesive and/or an interference fit.
[0013] Quick connect retainer 12 preferably includes outwardly
extending flange 20 integrally formed in an outward portion thereof
to control the axial positioning of quick connect retainer 12
relative to sleeve 18. In addition, quick connect retainer 12 also
includes an inwardly extending flange 22 integrally formed in an
inward portion thereof. Preferably, inwardly extending flange 22
consists of a plurality of discontinuous segments 27. Inwardly
extending flange 22 abuts shoulder 19. An appropriate fitting 50
(see FIG. 2) may be a pump port or drain connector adapted for use
with integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10. Intermediate wall
portion 24 extends between and joins outwardly extending flange 20
and inwardly extending flange 22 in quick connect retainer 12. A
sealing ring 26 is positioned between shoulder 21 and flange 22.
Sealing ring 26 is preferably fabricated from appropriate
thermoplastic elastomers or rubbers. The outside diameter of
intermediate wall portion 24 of quick connect retainer 12 is
preferably slightly smaller than the inside diameter of sleeve 18
to allow quick connect stepped body or retainer 12 to be inserted
into and positioned inside of sleeve 18. A slight interference fit
is required if spin welding or sonic welding is used.
[0014] Quick connect retainer 12 further preferably includes a
plurality of flexible fingers 28 extending inwardly at an angle in
order to connect integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10 to an
appropriate fitting 50. The interior of quick connect retainer 12
could utilize a variety of quick connect designs to facilitate
connection to and disconnection from other components that are well
known in the industry. In addition, the length of corrugated tubing
14 may be readily increased or decreased as needed to accommodate
variations in the distance between components to be joined by
integrated quick connect corrugated tubing assembly 10.
[0015] Integrated quick connect corrugated tubing assembly 10 is
preferably fabricated by inserting quick connect stepped body or
retainer 12 into sleeve 18 into position such that outwardly
extending flange 20 of quick connect retainer 12 abuts upon the end
of sleeve 18. Quick connect retainer 12 is secured in this position
by, most preferably, a spin weld, although other joining methods
could alternatively be used, for example, a sonic weld, an adhesive
and/or an interference fit.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an elevational schematic representation of an
integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10 and appropriate fitting
50. The fingers 28 are depressed by the pressure of an appropriate
fitting 50 when the fitting 50 is inserted into the integrated
quick connect tubing assembly 10. Once the quick connect tubing
assembly 10 has been fully slid onto an appropriate fitting 50, an
outwardly extending section or flange 52 on fitting 50 is held in
place by flexible fingers 28 securing the flange 52 in between the
inwardly extending flanges 22 and the ends of fingers 28. The quick
connect tubing assembly is held in place by fingers 28 due to the
resilience of fingers 28. A seal is thus formed between sealing
ring 26 of the quick connect tubing assembly 10 and the outer
surface 54 of the appropriate fitting 50. Integrated quick connect
tubing assembly 10 may be detached from the appropriate fitting by
depressing fingers 28. Fingers 28 may be depressed by sliding an
optional ring (not shown) located around the axis of fitting 50 in
the direction of quick connect tubing assembly 10 thereby
depressing fingers 28.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an elevational schematic representation of an
integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10 according to the
present invention. Corrugated tubing 14 may be fabricated in a
variety of lengths and diameters in order to facilitate varying
major appliance applications including cloths washing machines and
dishwashers. Washing machine drain fitting 11 may also be
integrated with integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a household washing machine
70. Integrated quick connect corrugated tubing 10 is shown as a
drain tube from the washing machine to an external drain, as a
drain tube from the tub 62 of the washing machine through a drain
64 to a pump 60, and as a clean water tube from a pump 60 to the
top of the tub 62.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the integrated quick
connect tubing assembly 10'. Integrated quick connect tubing
assembly 10' is preferably formed from a thermoplastic elastomer
material, such as Santoprene.RTM., or from rubber or rubber like
materials. In this second embodiment, at least a portion of tubing
14' is formed the thermoplastic elastomer material. An end of
tubing 14' includes a monolithically formed quick connect sleeve or
cuff 18'. Quick connect stepped retainer 12 fits within quick
connect sleeve 18' and is attached as described above for
integrated quick connect tubing assembly 10. Because of the
properties of thermoplastic elastomer material, a seal 26 is not
required. A portion 26' of thermoplastic elastomer tubing 14' acts
as a sealing surface for the pump nozzle or drain connector 50.
[0020] Accordingly, although the present invention has been
described above in detail, the same is by way of illustration and
example only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present
invention. It is apparent to those having a level of ordinary skill
in the relevant art that other variations and modifications in
integrated quick connect corrugated tubing in accordance with the
present invention, as described and shown herein, could be readily
made using the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the
scope and content of the present invention are to be defined only
by the terms of the appended claims.
* * * * *